Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen June 16, 2009It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.

A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.

After by Amy Efaw August 11, 2009An infant left in the trash to die. A teenage mother who never knew she was pregnant . . .

Before That Morning, these were the words most often used to describe straight-A student and star soccer player Devon Davenport: responsible, hardworking, mature. But all that changes when the police find Devon home sick from school as they investigate the case of an abandoned baby. Soon the connection is made—Devon has just given birth; the baby in the trash is hers. After That Morning, there’s only one way to define Devon: attempted murderer.

And yet gifted author Amy Efaw does the impossible— she turns Devon into an empathetic character, a girl who was in such deep denial that she refused to believe she was pregnant. Through airtight writing and fast-paced, gripping storytelling, Ms. Efaw takes the reader on Devon’s unforgettable journey toward clarity, acceptance, and redemption.Visit the author at http://www.amyefaw.com/ or http://www.after-book.com/ for more book info.

A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck September 17, 2009The return of one of children's literature's most memorable characters is a gift indeed.

The eccentric, forceful, big-hearted Grandma Dowdel is the star of the Newbery Medal–winning A Year Down Yonder and Newbery Honor–winning A Long Way from Chicago. And it turns out that her story isn’t over—not even close.

It is now 1958, and a new family has moved in next door to Mrs. Dowdel: a Methodist minister and his wife and kids. Soon Mrs. Dowdel will work her particular brand of charm—or medicine, depending on who you’re asking—on all of them: ten-yearold Bob, who is shy on courage in a town full of bullies; his two fascinating sisters; and even Bob’s two parents, who are amazed to discover that the last house in town might also be the most vital.

As Christmas rolls around, the Barnhart family realizes that they’ve found a true home—and a neighbor who gives gifts that will last a lifetime.

I'm a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to be Your Class President by Josh Lieb October 13, 2009Family Guy meets Election in this hilarious young adult debut!

Twelve-year-old Oliver Watson’s got the IQ of a grilled cheese sandwich. Or so everyone in Omaha thinks. In reality, Oliver’s a mad evil genius on his way to world domination, and he’s used his great brain to make himself the third-richest person on earth! Then Oliver’s father—and archnemesis—makes a crack about the upcoming middle school election, and Oliver takes it as a personal challenge. He’ll run, and he’ll win! Turns out, though, that overthrowing foreign dictators is actually way easier than getting kids to like you. . . Can this evil genius win the class presidency and keep his true identity a secret, all in time to impress his dad?

Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollen Young Reader's Edition October 15, 2009“What’s for dinner?” seemed like a simple question—until journalist and supermarket detective Michael Pollan delved behind the scenes. From fast food and big organic to small farms and old-fashioned hunting and gathering, this young readers’ adaptation of Pollan’s famous food-chain exploration encourages kids to consider the personal and global health implications of their food choices.

In a smart, compelling format with updated facts, plenty of photos, graphs, and visuals, as well as a new afterword and backmatter, The Omnivore’s Dilemma serves up a bold message to the generation that needs it most: It’s time to take charge of our national eating habits—and it starts with you.

Hold Still by Nina LaCour October 20, 2009An arresting story about starting over after a friend’s suicide, from a breakthrough new voice in YA fiction.

dear caitlin, there are so many things that i want so badly to tell you but i just can’t.

Devastating, hopeful, hopeless, playful . . . in words and illustrations, Ingrid left behind a painful farewell in her journal for Caitlin. Now Caitlin is left alone, by loss and by choice, struggling to find renewed hope in the wake of her best friend’s suicide. With the help of family and newfound friends, Caitlin will encounter first love, broaden her horizons, and start to realize that true friendship didn’t die with Ingrid. And the journal which once seemed only to chronicle Ingrid’s descent into depression, becomes the tool by which Caitlin once again reaches out to all those who loved Ingrid—and Caitlin herself.

Million Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica November 3, 2009What would you do with a million dollars, if you were 13?Nate Brodie is nicknamed “Brady” not only for his arm, but also because he’s the biggest Tom Brady fan. He’s even saved up to buy an autographed football. And when he does, he wins the chance for something he’s never dreamed of—to throw a pass through a target at a Patriots game for one million dollars.

Nate should be excited. But things have been tough lately. His dad lost his job and his family is losing their home. It’s no secret that a million dollars would go a long way. So all Nate feels is pressure, and just when he needs it most, his golden arm begins to fail him. Even worse, his best friend Abby is going blind, slowly losing her ability to do the one thing she loves most—paint. Yet Abby never complains, and she is Nate’s inspiration. He knows she’ll be there when he makes the throw of a lifetime.Mike Lupica’s latest sports novel is also his most heartwarming. Visit the author at http://www.mikelupica.com/.

To enter to win, just tell me which of these 7 realistic books you want to read most, and which upcoming realistic book (any publisher) you are most looking forward to (can be the same book of course!).As always, +1 if you link to this contest from your blog or social media site and leave me a separate comment saying so.

+1 for being a follower. Just leave me another separate comment for it to count.This contest is open to US and Canadian addresses only and ends on June 3rd at noon CST. The winner will have 24 hours to provide a shipping address or I will have to pick a new winner.

Definitely off this list, the book I want to read the most is Hold Still by Nina LaCour. The cover is beautiful (the colors, the font, etc.). The plot sounds heartbreaking and amazing. It doesn't get much better than that.

An upcoming realistic book I am looking forward to is Flash, Burnout by L.K. Madigan. I love photography, and I love young adult fiction from the male's perspective. I know I'll dig this one.

Thanks for this awesome contest! All the books on this list seem amazing, and anyone would be lucky to recieve them.

Just read my first Dessen book the other day and very much looking forward to the release of the next one so that would be my answer for both (although all the books sound great!)Jillgirlonthepark@gmail.com

I'd most like to read Alone for the Ride by Sarah Dessen and that is one I'm definatly looking forward to reading since I love Sarah's other books! Thanks for the chance. unforgetable_dreamer_always(at)hotmail.com

Oh, it's hard to pick between Along for the Ride and A Season of Gifts since I love both the authors and I'm really excited to see a new Richard Peck book-yay!!!

Other than those, I'm most looking forward to Sara Zarr's new novel Once Was Lost-the premise sounds amazing and I recently read an article by Sara about her religious upbringing, which was very interesting, so I think this book will be great!

Okay, I wouldn't have believed there would be anything that would supercede the Sarah Dessen for me, but I SO want I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to be Your Class President. It is possibly the best book title I have ever seen. I am lusting for it.

A realistic, in the sense of being non-fiction, book I can't wait to see in press is IraqiGirl: Diary of a Teenage Girl in Iraq... but I had a hand in getting it to press, so I'm more than a tad biased.

Along For The Ride! I love love love Sarah Dessen. She was one of the only authors to ever make me cry (Dreamland was the culprit)! So that's my answer for both questions. Although I want to read After too!

I'm going to pick A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck for both questions. Although, after reading the blurb for I'm a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to be Your Class President by Josh Lieb that might change. They both sound like a lot of fun. :0)

Oh, I have to say the book I want most on this list is Along for the Ride. As for the realistic book I'm most looking forward too this summer -- it's a toss-up between Along for the Ride and Nothing but Ghosts by Beth Kephart.

I think the book I would love to have the most is Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen simply because I love her, her books, and the cover of course:)And for the book I'm looking forward to the most, it would definitely be Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler. I love that it is about love and loss and, again, the cover. (I'm such a cover whore). Teehee:D Anyway, I really, really hope I win and it's a wonderful, wonderful contest:)

Out of the books in this contest, I am really, really excited about After. It looks SO good. As far as realistic books in general, I can't wait to read Love You Hate You Miss You. They both look so good.

After is the book I'm looking forward to reading the most. As far as the next one...I love Sarah Desson so The Ride would be it!Thanks for the opportunity to win all these amazing books! I plan to share most with my teenage daughters.

I'd like to read Along For The Ride. I've never read any of Sarah Dessen's books but this one looks very... And I'd love to read Love You, Hate You, Miss You by Elizabeth Scott. Enter me! jfgirl@hughes.net